Drinks holder

ABSTRACT

A cup holder, especially for a motor vehicle, has a support ( 14 ) that can be lowered into a base ( 5 ), a first holding ring ( 16 ) that is attached to the support ( 14 ), a bottom part ( 18 ) that is likewise attached to the support ( 14 ), and a second holding ring ( 20 ). The first holding ring ( 16 ) may be selectively locked in a first position in which it is concentric with the second holding ring ( 20 ), and may assume a second position in which it can be rotated with respect to the second holding ring ( 20 ).

The present invention relates to a cup holder of the type used especially in motor vehicles.

Such a cup holder has to fulfill a multitude of requirements. First of all, it has to be able to securely accommodate and hold a large variety of different containers. Secondly, it has to be possible to move it from an operational position, in which it can accommodate the containers, into a stand-by position requiring a minimum of space, and vice versa. In the stand-by position, the cup holder should preferably not be visible, for example, it should be concealed behind a cover, or integrated in some other manner into a lining surrounding it so as to give an overall harmonious visual impression. Finally, it is desirable to have the possibility to accommodate two containers.

The cup holders known so far have not always successfully fulfilled these requirements.

The object of the invention is to provide a cup holder that fulfills the above-mentioned requirements.

For this purpose, according to the invention, a cup holder is provided, especially for a motor vehicle, comprising a support that can be lowered into a base, a first holding ring that is attached to the support, a bottom part that is likewise attached to the support, and a second holding ring, the first holding ring being adapted to be selectively locked in a first position in which it is concentric with the second holding ring, and being adapted to assume a second position in which it can be rotated with respect to the second holding ring. This cup holder is distinguished by two different positions, namely, a first position in which only a first container can be accommodated so that the cup holder needs comparatively little space, and a second position in which two containers can be accommodated.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are apparent from the subordinate claims.

The invention will be described below with reference to two preferred embodiments that are depicted in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a center console with a cup holder according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the cup holder of FIG. 1 in the lowered state;

FIG. 3 shows the cup holder of FIG. 1 in an intermediate state;

FIG. 4 shows the cup holder of FIG. 1 in an enlarged view;

FIG. 5 shows a cup holder according to a second embodiment of the invention in the lowered state;

FIG. 6 shows the cup holder of FIG. 5 in a first position; and

FIG. 7 shows the cup holder of FIG. 5 in a second position.

FIG. 1 suggests a center console 5 that serves as the base for a cup holder 10. It can accommodate two containers 12, for example, two cups.

The cup holder has a support 14 on which a first holding ring 16 is attached. Moreover, a first bottom part 18 is attached to the support 14. By pressing the support 14 once in the direction of the arrow F of FIG. 2, a click-click locking mechanism is actuated, whereupon the support 14 extends out of the base in an upward direction under the action of a spring so that the holding ring 16 comes to be positioned above the base 5 and the bottom 18 is at about the level of the surface of the base 5. In this state, a first container 12 can be placed into the holding ring 16. By pressing a second time on the support 14, it is extended even further upwards from the base 5 so that a second holding ring 20 (see FIG. 3) is raised from the base 5. The holding ring 16 can now be rotated, together with the bottom 18, relative to the second holding ring 20, into a second position (see FIG. 4) in which the first holding ring 16 and the bottom part 18 are located outside of the second holding ring 20. It is now possible to place a second container into the second holding ring, with an opening provided in the base 5 serving as the receiving space and as the bottom.

When the first holding ring 16 and the bottom part 18 are rotated back into the first position in which they are concentric with the second holding ring 20, then they can be slid into the base 5 by pressing on the support 14 and they can be locked there so that the entire cup holder once again lies flush with the base 5.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show a cup holder according to a second embodiment. This one also has a support 14 that can be lowered into a base 5. A first holding ring 16 and a second holding ring 20 as well as a first bottom part 18 and a second bottom part 22 are mounted on the support 5.

By pressing a first time on the upper end of the support 14 or on the first holding ring 16, the cup holder moves into the first position shown in FIG. 6 in which the first holding ring 16, the second holding ring 20, the first bottom part 18 and the second bottom part 22 are concentric with respect to each other. In this first position, one single container can be placed into the holding rings 16, 20 so that it rests on the bottom 18.

By pressing a second time on the support 14, a locking mechanism is actuated so that the two holding rings 16, 20 as well as the two bottom parts 18, 22 are rotated outwards away from each other and into the second position shown in FIG. 7. In this state, they are situated to either side of the support 14 so that first and second containers can be accommodated. 

1. A cup holder, especially for a motor vehicle, comprising a support (14) that can be lowered into a base (5), a first holding ring (16) that is attached to the support (14), a bottom part (18) that is likewise attached to the support (14), and a second holding ring (20), the first holding ring (16) being adapted to be selectively locked in a first position in which it is concentric with the second holding ring (20), and being adapted to assume a second position in which it can be rotated with respect to the second holding ring (20).
 2. The cup holder according to claim 1, characterized in that a second bottom part (22) is provided which, in the locked position of the first holding ring (16), is arranged concentrically with the first bottom part (18). 